Top Indian States by Population | Statewise Population 2021
Top Indian States by Population
India’s 2020 population is estimated at 1,380,004,385 people at mid-year according to UN data. As per the Unique Identification Authority of India, India’s population is 1,371,360,350 (approx) in 2020. So based on these estimates, India’s Population in 2021 is close to 1.4 Billion or 140 Crores.
India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, a total of 36 numbers. Uttar Pradesh is largest state by population & Goa is least populated state in India. Let’s have a look at the population of States & Union Territories.
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates
Statewise Population 2021
| Rank | States | 2011 Census | 2021 estimates |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 19,98,12,341 | 23 Crores |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 11,23,74,333 | 12.44 Crores |
| 3 | Bihar | 10,40,99,452 | 12.30 Crores |
| 4 | West Bengal | 9,12,76,115 | 9.8 Crores |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 7,26,26,809 | 8.45 Crores |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | 7,21,47,030 | 7.65 Crores |
| 7 | Rajasthan | 6,85,48,437 | 8 Crores |
| 8 | Karnataka | 6,10,95,297 | 6.70 Crores |
| 9 | Gujarat | 6,04,39,692 | 7 Crores |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 4,95,76,777 | 5.27 Crores |
| 11 | Odisha | 4,19,74,218 | 4.55 Crores |
| 12 | Telangana | 3,50,04,000 | 3.80 Crores |
| 13 | Kerala | 3,34,06,061 | 3.55 Crores |
| 14 | Jharkhand | 3,29,88,134 | 3.85 Crores |
| 15 | Assam | 3,12,05,576 | 3.50 Crores |
| 16 | Punjab | 2,77,43,338 | 3 Crores |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | 2,55,45,198 | 2.95 Crores |
| 18 | Haryana | 2,53,51,462 | 2.95 Crores |
| UT1 | Delhi | 1,67,87,941 | 2 Crores |
| UT2 | Jammu & Kashmir | 1,22,58,433 | 1.34 Crores |
| 19 | Uttarakhand | 1,00,86,292 | 1.14 Crores |
| 20 | Himachal Pradesh | 68,64,602 | 74 Lakhs |
| 21 | Tripura | 36,73,917 | 41 Lakhs |
| 22 | Meghalaya | 29,66,889 | 33 Lakhs |
| 23 | Manipur | 28,55,794 | 31.65 Lakhs |
| 24 | Nagaland | 19,78,502 | 22 Lakhs |
| 25 | Goa | 14,58,545 | 16 Lakhs |
| 26 | Arunachal Pradesh | 13,83,727 | 15.33 Lakhs |
| UT3 | Puducherry | 12,47,953 | 15.71 Lakhs |
| 27 | Mizoram | 10,97,206 | 12.16 Lakhs |
| UT4 | Chandigarh | 10,55,450 | 12 Lakhs |
| 28 | Sikkim | 6,10,577 | 6.77 Lakhs |
| UT5 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 5,86,956 | 6.20 Lakhs |
| UT6 | Andaman & Nicobar | 3,80,581 | 4 Lakhs |
| UT7 | Ladakh | 274,289 | 2.97 Lakhs |
| UT8 | Lakshadweep | 64,473 | 68000 |
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates
Top 5 States by Population 2021
The top 5 populated states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. In 2011 Maharashtra is at 2nd Spot, but Bihar with a higher growth rate (approx 20%) is very close to Maharashtra by 2023-24 it will be at the second spot.
Almost half of the country’s population lives in these five highest populous states & the Ten most populated states of India contribute 74% of India’s population. Bihar has the highest population growth rate during this decade followed by Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The list of the 10 Largest states in India by population is as follows
| Rank | States | 2021 estimates |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 23 Crores |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 12.44 Crores |
| 3 | Bihar | 12.30 Crores |
| 4 | West Bengal | 9.8 Crores |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 8.45 Crores |
| 7 | Rajasthan | 8 Crores |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | 7.65 Crores |
| 8 | Gujarat | 7 Crores |
| 9 | Karnataka | 6.70 Crores |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 5.27 Crores |
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates
Least Populated States 2021
Sikkim is the least populated state followed by Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh. 12 least populous states/UTs contribute only 1 % of India’s population and the 21 lowest constitute only 10 % of the total.
| Rank | States | 2021 (estimates) |
| 1 | Sikkim | 6.77 Lakhs |
| 2 | Mizoram | 12.16 Lakhs |
| 3 | Arunachal Pradesh | 15.71 Lakhs |
| 4 | Goa | 16 Lakhs |
| 5 | Nagaland | 22 Lakhs |
| 6 | Manipur | 31.65 Lakhs |
| 7 | Meghalaya | 33 Lakhs |
| 8 | Tripura | 41 Lakhs |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | 74 Lakhs |
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates
Union Territories by Population 2021
India has 8 union territories, Delhi with close to 20 million population is the largest & Lakshadweep is with a population of 74K is the smallest. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are newly formed UTs.
| Rank | UTs | 2021 (estimates) |
| 1 | Delhi | 2 Crores |
| 2 | Jammu & Kashmir | 1.34 Crores |
| 3 | Puducherry | 15.71 Lakhs |
| 4 | Chandigarh | 12 Lakhs |
| 5 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 6.20 Lakhs |
| 6 | Andaman & Nicobar | 4 Lakhs |
| 7 | Ladakh | 2.97 Lakhs |
| 8 | Lakshadweep | 68000 |
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates
States with Highest Growth Rate 2021
As per estimates, India’s growth rate is approx 14% for 2011-2021. Bihar has the highest population growth rate during 2011-2021 of 19.89% followed by Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
| Rank | States | Growth rate |
| 1 | Bihar | 19.89 % |
| 2 | Uttar Pradesh | 19.05 % |
| 3 | Rajasthan | 18.21 % |
| 4 | Madhya Pradesh | 17.53 % |
| 5 | Jharkhand | 16.99 % |
| 6 | Chhattisgarh | 15.23 % |
| 7 | Assam | 14.1 % |
| 8 | Nagaland | 13.71 % |
| 9 | Tripura | 13.5 % |
| 10 | Meghalaya | 13.48 % |
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates
Indian States with Lowest Growth Rate 2021
As per estimates, India’s growth rate is approx 14% for 2011-2021. 10 States have grown at a rate below 10%. In the 2011 census, most of the South & Western Indian States have a growth rate below the national average & in 2021 also they have a low growth rate. Gujarat is a state with the least growth rate followed by Kerala & Tamilnadu.
| Rank | State | Growth rate |
| 1 | Gujarat | 5.68 |
| 2 | Kerala | 6.87 |
| 3 | Tamil Nadu | 7.89 |
| 4 | Manipur | 8.26 |
| 5 | Himachal Pradesh | 8.56 |
| 6 | Punjab | 8.64 |
| 7 | Andhra Pradesh | 8.73 |
| 8 | Goa | 8.76 |
| 9 | West Bengal | 9.13 |
| 10 | Maharashtra | 9.58 |
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates
Top Indian States & Union Territories by Area
The top 5 states area-wise are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh & Gujarat. Ladakh is Largest Union Territory by Area followed by Jammu & Kashmir. Goa is the smallest State by Area & Lakshadweep is the smallest Union Territory.
List of Indians States with Area & Density
| Rank | States/UT | Area (sq. km) | Density* (p/km2) |
| 1 | Rajasthan | 342,239 | 241 |
| 2 | Madhya Pradesh | 308,245 | 282 |
| 3 | Maharashtra | 307,713 | 404 |
| 4 | Uttar Pradesh | 240,928 | 996 |
| 5 | Gujarat | 196,024 | 328 |
| 6 | Karnataka | 191,791 | 356 |
| 7 | Andhra Pradesh | 162,968 | 334 |
| 8 | Chhattisgarh | 135,191 | 220 |
| 9 | Tamil Nadu | 130,051 | 604 |
| 10 | Telangana | 112,077 | 355 |
| 11 | Ladakh | 96,701 | 3 |
| 12 | Bihar | 94,163 | 1349 |
| 13 | West Bengal | 88,752 | 1127 |
| 14 | Arunachal Pradesh | 83,743 | 19 |
| 15 | Jharkhand | 79,714 | 492 |
| 16 | Assam | 78,438 | 459 |
| 17 | Odisha | 55,707 | 842 |
| 18 | Himachal Pradesh | 55,673 | 135 |
| 19 | Uttarakhand | 53,483 | 213 |
| 20 | Punjab | 50,362 | 596 |
| 21 | Haryana | 44,212 | 645 |
| 22 | Jammu & Kashmir | 42,241 | 327 |
| 23 | Kerala | 38,863 | 926 |
| 24 | Meghalaya | 22,429 | 152 |
| 25 | Manipur | 22,327 | 143 |
| 26 | Mizoram | 21,081 | 60 |
| 27 | Nagaland | 16,579 | 139 |
| 28 | Tripura | 10,486 | 401 |
| 29 | Andaman & Nicobar | 8,249 | 51 |
| 30 | Sikkim | 7,096 | 986 |
| 31 | Goa | 3,702 | 432 |
| 32 | Delhi | 1,484 | 12803 |
| 33 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 603 | 1028 |
| 34 | Puducherry | 479 | 2990 |
| 35 | Chandigarh | 114 | 10254 |
| 36 | Lakshadweep | 32 | 2317 |
Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates* Density based on 2021 Estimtes
Largest & Smallest State by Area
| # | State/UT | Area (sq. km) |
| Largest State | Rajasthan | 342,239 km2 |
| Largest UT | Ladakh | 96,701 km2 |
| Smallest State | Goa | 3,702 km2 |
| Smallest UT | Lakshadweep | 32 km2 |
Largest & Smallest State by Density
| # | State/UT | Density (p/km2) |
| Highest Density State | Bihar | 1349 p/km2 |
| Highest Density UT | Delhi | 12803 p/km2 |
| Least Density State | Arunachal Pradesh | 19 p/km2 |
| Least Density UT | Ladakh | 3 p/km2 |
* Density based on 2021 Estimates
Indian States by Literary Rate
As per the Census 2011, India’s literacy rate in 2011 is 73%. Male literacy rates in 80.90% & the female literacy rate is 64.60%. Literacy rate in Urban is 84.10% & 67.80% in rural India. Kerala is the state with the highest literacy rate ( 94%) & Andhra Pradesh (67%) is the lowest. Below is the list of States & Union territories with literacy rates from highest to lowest.
| State | Literacy Rate |
| Kerala | 96.2 |
| Delhi | 88.7 |
| Uttarakhand | 87.6 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 86.6 |
| Assam | 85.9 |
| Maharashtra | 84.8 |
| Punjab | 83.7 |
| Tamil Nadu | 82.9 |
| Gujarat | 82.4 |
| West Bengal | 80.5 |
| Haryana | 80.4 |
| Chhattisgarh | 77.3 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 77.3 |
| Odisha | 77.3 |
| Karnataka | 77.2 |
| Jharkhand | 74.3 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 73.7 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 73 |
| Telangana | 72.8 |
| Bihar | 70.9 |
| Rajasthan | 69.7 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 66.4 |
| All India | 77.7 |
Source: survey by National Statistical Office (NSO)
Indian States by Female Sex Ratio at birth
The sex ratio at birth Of India for the period 2015-17 (3-years average) has been estimated at 896. At National level, it is 898 in rural areas and 890 in urban areas. Among the bigger States/UTs, the sex ratio at birth varies from 961 in Chhattisgarh to 833 in Haryana.
In the rural areas, the highest and the lowest sex ratio at birth are in the States of Chhattisgarh (985) and Haryana (828) respectively. The sex ratio at birth in urban areas varies from 950 in Madhya Pradesh to 816 in Uttarakhand. Chart 32 depicts the variation in sex ratio at birth by residence among bigger States/UTs in the country.
Sex ratio (female per 1000 male) at birth by residence, 2015-2017
| State | Total | Rural | Urban |
| India | 896 | 898 | 890 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 916 | 928 | 885 |
| Assam | 915 | 918 | 891 |
| Bihar | 900 | 904 | 865 |
| Chhattisgarh | 961 | 985 | 862 |
| Delhi | 850 | 926 | 848 |
| Gujarat | 855 | 865 | 838 |
| Haryana | 833 | 828 | 844 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 918 | 920 | 878 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 917 | 919 | 910 |
| Jharkhand | 916 | 927 | 876 |
| Karnataka | 929 | 958 | 879 |
| Kerala | 948 | 965 | 931 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 916 | 908 | 950 |
| Maharashtra | 881 | 886 | 875 |
| Odisha | 938 | 946 | 881 |
| Punjab | 886 | 874 | 905 |
| Rajasthan | 856 | 858 | 851 |
| Tamil Nadu | 907 | 919 | 896 |
| Telangana | 897 | 922 | 859 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 878 | 862 | 938 |
| Uttarakhand | 841 | 849 | 816 |
| West Bengal | 939 | 943 | 925 |
Source: Based on Indian Census 2017 Study & Estimates
